| J. C. Squire, ed. A Book of Women’s Verse. 1921. | | | | Song: “How strongly does my passion flow” | | By Aphra Behn (1640–1689) |
| | | HOW strongly does my passion flow, | |
| Divided equally ’twixt two? | |
| Damon had ne’er subdued my heart, | |
| Had not Alexis took his part; | |
| Nor could Alexis powerful prove, | 5 |
| Without my Damon’s aid, to gain my love. | |
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| When my Alexis present is, | |
| Then I for Damon sigh and mourn; | |
| But when Alexis I do miss, | |
| Damon gains nothing but my scorn. | 10 |
| But if it chance they both are by, | |
| For both alike I languish, sigh, and die. | |
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| Cure then, thou mighty wingèd god, | |
| This restless fever in my blood; | |
| One golden-pointed dart take back: | 15 |
| But which, O Cupid, wilt thou take? | |
| If Damon’s, all my hopes are crost; | |
| Or that of my Alexis, I am lost. | | | | |
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